TASMAN FLIGHTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 90, 17 April 1934, Page 9

TASMAN FLIGHTS.

LITTLE AUSTRALIAN INTEREST MR. S. E. NEILSON'S CONCLUSIONS. Close association with aviation matters in Australia has led Mr. S. E. Neilson, secretary of the New Zealand Aero Club, to the opinion that Australians generally are not particularly interested in the development of a regular trans-Tasman air service. Mr. Neilson returned yesterday by the Monowai from a business trip to Sydney. "We have a lot to do on this side before the service can become a fact," he said. "Definite steps are being taken 'in Sydney for the formation of a new company which will take in a proposed service across the Tasman as one of its activities, but it would be some time before it operates. New Zealand will have to make complete internal arrangements for the distribution of passengers and mails. It is to be hoped that the l company which is being formed here will be able to operate satisfactorily enough to provide an inducement for a regular link with Australia.

"The opinion has been expressed over there that our Government should immediately take in hand a radio directional system for 'planes on both internal and trans-Tasman flights. This radio service could probably operate in conjunction with shipping.

"Unfortunately, apart from our two pioneering friends ' Smithy' and Ulm, there is very little interest in Australia in aviation in New Zealand," said Mr. N'eilson. "The main efforts will have to come from this side, and can be facilitated only by assistance from the Government. The whole of Australia's interest in aviation at present is the connection with Singapore and the arrangements for internal services."

Australia's air defcnce forces appeared to bo well ahead of those of the Dominion. The Commonwealth naturally had more machines, though with a lighter personnel in proportion. The types of machines used were more modern than those at present provided for New Zealand's defence. Flight in the Codock. At Mascot, Mr. Neilson was given a flight in "Smithy's" new Codock during her final trials. The machine takes off easily with a short run, and lands in an unusually small space, as very effective brakes are fitted. To demonstrate the airworthiness of the 'plane, "Smithy" flew for a considerable time with hands and feet off the controls. Special streamlining • of the fuselage, along the lines of Fokker machines, had produced 10 miles per hour more than her specified cruising speed.